The Ridge, Cold Ash, RG18

Nestled on the prestigious Ridge in the charming village of Cold Ash, Berkshire, Twin Chimneys exemplifies modern luxury living. This exquisite five-bedroom residence showcases meticulous attention to detail and designer craftsmanship throughout. Offering an unparalleled blend of sophistication and comfort, Twin Chimneys is the ideal family home for those with discerning tastes.

Double-height windows project masses of natural light and combine in perfect architectural harmony with soaring ceilings, solid wood features, underfloor heating throughout, plus clever use of glass panels and brushed steel in balustrades and staircases.

At the heart of all this carefully choreographed 4,758 sq ft of space is an absolutely stunning  bespoke open-plan kitchen and dining room – extending to double height and accessed seamlessly from the mezzanine entrance hall. There are three further reception rooms too.

The designer staircase leads up to five spacious bedrooms which all enjoy delightful rural views – the very exclusive leafy surrounds of The Ridge to the front and, to the rear, across the gently tiered south-facing gardens which are bordered by mature trees and woodland.

The sleeping quarters are as impressive as the rest of this superlative residence and feature a super-luxe principal suite complete with private bathroom, dressing room and balcony - facets which are mirrored in the guest bedroom. There are three additional double bedrooms.

Twin Chimneys was built 14 years ago and the kitchen has recently had a bespoke refurbishment, along with all the bathrooms, by the acclaimed Ben Heath Interiors of Newbury.

Nestled in a village setting with two primary schools, a pub and village shop with post office, Cold Ash is just a couple of miles from Thatcham, where there’s a Waitrose supermarket, and it’s a little further to the idyllic market town of Newbury. Cold Ash is within the catchment area of the acclaimed state secondary, The Downs School at Compton, and the private Downe House School is just outside the village. Commuter links are great – the A34, M4 and Thatcham station with trains to London Paddington in 50 minutes are all within a short drive.

Superlative luxury and exquisite style

Cloistered within the leafy tranquillity of The Ridge amongst an enclave of similarly exclusive homes, Twin Chimneys sits well back from the road behind walls and electric gates which swing open onto the gravelled driveway in front of a detached double garage. There’s ample parking space for at least half-a-dozen cars and an expanse of lawn with well-stocked borders.

Sheltered by a pillared porch, the front door opens into the amazing entrance hall – and it’s quite something! This radiant multi-level space makes breathtaking impact, flowing seamlessly via bespoke staircases lined with steel and glass balustrades to the other parts of the house, and they also create a galleried divider between the hall and the striking double-height dining area below. With elegant ceramic tiles underfoot, the look is contemporary and full of panache.

Two of the lovely reception rooms are accessed via double doors from the hallway. Firstly, there’s the 22x18ft drawing room which has a cool neutral décor and is the perfect place for enjoying aperitifs with guests. An attractive open fireplace provides a warming focus in the winter months. The room is filled with natural light by virtue of a bay window and this is echoed in the 18x16ft sitting room across the other side of the entrance hall, and in the study.

A cloakroom with WC and a pair of large cupboards for storing coats and shoes completes the layout of the entrance hall.

Endless space

A short flight of stairs leads down to the open-plan kitchen and dining room, the dazzling heart of the home which, with the double doors to the adjacent family room opened, creates an amazing free-flow 60x18ft space enhanced by the lofty ceilings and deep windows. As well as being made-to-measure for the family to eat and socialise together, there’s also the space for everyone to do their own thing. It’s a truly unsurpassable party house and can extend to the garden simply by opening the French doors in the dining area. In the ceiling there are automatic Velux windows, equipped with rain sensors, and a number of unobtrusive exterior solar panels generate enough power to heat the water during the summer.

Revamped with hand-crafted dove grey cabinetry two years ago, the kitchen is a cook’s haven and the perfect place to gather for schoolday breakfasts, morning coffee or informal suppers around the white quartz-topped central island, illuminated by a trio of designer pendant lights and complete with space for six bar stools.

The sink unit in the alcove created by the high bay window basks in sunshine, and there are integral Siemens ovens, hob and fridge. An adjoining well-equipped utility room has a door to the garden and is equipped with further storage cupboards, a sink and plumbing for the washing machine and dryer.  A walk-in drying/airing room is a useful extra.

If spectacular dinner parties are on the agenda, a really large table and chairs slots easily into the bright and breezy dining area in front of the French doors and glass panels. Add a comfy sofa and chairs and it becomes the perfect spot for chatting with guests before dinner or for simply winding down after a hard day’s work with a nice G&T. Add to the relaxation by closing the doors of the family room so the children can watch TV, play on their devices or do their homework without disturbing anyone else.

Sweet dreams

Bedrooms really don’t come better than these at Twin Chimneys. With pared-back decor they’re ripe for personalisation if desired and they’re all reached via a long landing with another gallery overlooking the dining area.

Each measuring 19x18ft, the principal bedroom and guest bedroom are practically identical and exude boutique hotel style and sass, both featuring top-of-the-range Ben Heath bespoke bathrooms with glamorous bath tubs, rainfall showers and twin washbasins. They both have walk-in dressing rooms and balconies overlooking the lawns – absolutely fabulous!

The three remaining bedrooms are all generous doubles and equipped with loads of built-in wardrobe storage. They share the family bathroom, again with bath tub and walk-in shower cubicle.

Come into the garden

Standing within half-an-acre of gardens, Twin Chimneys is a dream for families and boasts more than enough space for all ages to chill out or to enjoy a spot of gardening. Shaded by beautiful mature trees and shrubs and fenced all round, it’s safe for the children.

The sheer size of the gently tiered expanse of lawn is made-to-measure for little ones to run about and kick a ball and can be developed as desired – add play equipment, cultivate further flower borders or install raised vegetable boxes perhaps?

Sunbathing, relaxing, reading, family barbecues, evening drinks and canapes are all possible on the impressive raised brick terrace running the width of the house – it’s a suntrap south-facing dream that catches the sun all day and is galleried with similar steel balustrades and glass panelling as the entrance hall and has steps down to the lawn.  

To the rear of the garage, there’s a ‘bonus room’ – currently used as a boot room for discarding post-ramble muddy footwear and towelling down damp dogs, it could be repurposed perhaps as a small gym or a craft studio. There’s also a shed for storing the gardening equipment.

Round and about

Cold Ash is the kind of country village that many aspire to make their home because everything you need is conveniently on the doorstep or within a short drive at Thatcham, Newbury and Reading.

On the edge of the glorious Berkshire Downs, this is the perfect place for getting the wind in your hair out walking, cycling or riding - Cold Ash is criss-crossed by no less than 28 footpaths. The community orchard and wildlife garden is a lovely place to wander, entwined around the village allotments. Outdoor sports such as tennis (on two hard courts), football and cricket are played on the recreation ground alongside the village hall which has a busy weekly programme of social events.

The village shop/post office is the place to pick up a pint of milk or the daily paper and the local pub, The Spotted Dog, is always busy with locals, families and dog walkers who enjoy the freshly-made pub grub, quizzes and music nights.

Other pubs nearby include the 17th-century Bladebone Inn, a stylish gastro-pub full of history, and The Cottage Inn – a great family pub. Those in search of fine dining and Michelin stars are thoroughly spoiled with The Woodspeen, Renaissant and The Vineyard all within a short drive near Newbury.

The village primary schools, both Ofsted-rated ‘good’, are St Finian’s RC and St Mark’s CE. The nearest secondary is Kennet Comprehensive School at Thatcham, rated ‘outstanding’. As well as Downe House on the edge of Cold Ash, some of the country’s finest independent schools are within a ten-mile radius and include Elstree, Brockhurst & Marlston House, Padworth College, Bradfield College, St Andrews and Cheam.

Parking - Double garage